More Images of Cen A

Centaurus A (NGC 5128): X Ray -
Optical Comparison
This picture shows the Chandra X-ray image overlaid on
the optical image of Centaurus A. The optical image
shows that Centaurus A is an elliptical galaxy with
huge dust lanes across the middle of the galaxy. This
has led astronomers to speculate that Centaurus A was
the site of a merger between a small spiral galaxy and
a large elliptical galaxy several hundred million years
ago. Such a merger could have provided a large supply
of gas for a central black hole that triggered the
explosive activity observed by X-ray and radio
telescopes. The energetic central region, or nucleus,
is obscured by the dust lanes in optical images, but
shines clearly in X-rays, as do the dramatic jet
structures extending in either direction from the
nucleus well beyond the edges of the galaxy.